David Galloway

Adam Savage, co-host of Mythbusters, is known for his scissor-lift toolbox where all tools can be easily picked up without moving other tools around. Instructables user The Engineer As Hero shows how this concept can be applied to a standard zippered toolbag by adding cheap and easily-made wood and PVC organizers.

If it takes you more than a few seconds to find the tool you need and you don't have a large collection of hand tools you should consider adopting the First Order Retrievability orgazational philosophy. Basically stated, this means that no tool must be moved out of the way to get to another tool.

In a toolbag, use 6mm plywood to create a solid base to make the bag less floppy. Add in vertical partitions according to the size of your tools and cut down PVC pipe to create slots to hold long handled tools such as screwdrivers and wrenches. You'll of course have to adjust according to the size of your tools and toolbag, but using the overall design philosophy should result in less time spent looking for the same tools again and again.

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For more of Adam Savage's work and life hacks, check out his recent How I Work post here at Lifehacker.